Desert in Putlos

Ship 8 Defence Fleet The coast has been operating at SNMCMG1 since the beginning of the year, 1 of 4 NATO teams. It plays the function of a flagship unit. The squad itself is in charge kmdr Lt. Casper Sternesupported by the ‘Czernica’ multi-national staff. Poles form a separate military contingent called PKW “Czernicki”.

"Steadfast Dart" became their first major exercises during this mission. “The squad received the task of demining the waters around the Schleswig-Holstein Peninsula to pave the way for the landing party,” explains Capt. Łukasz Koziarski, SNMCMG1 spokesman. ‘Czernicki’ directed the activities of FGS ‘Fulda’ mine destroyers from Germany and HNLMS ‘Schiedam’ from the Netherlands. Their crews searched the boxes assigned to them, neutralizing the threat.

During this time the frigates trained to repel attacks from the sea and air, as well as to fight against the submarine. However, ships were not the only ones practicing on the Baltic. In the waters of the Gulf of Kiel, the Turkish Navy conducted a test utilizing Bayraktara. A drone armed with 2 tiny MAM-L gliders picked up from the runway aboard the TCG ‘Anadol’, destroyed the targets at sea, and then returned to the unit. "This is Bayraktar TB3's first operational demonstration outside Turkey," says the strategy manufacturer, Baykar. The cited unmanned model was designed for operations in the marine environment.

The landing operation itself was carried out at Putlos camp close Kilonia. Soldiers from the elite Turkish SAT unit, as well as Spanish peculiar forces, landed first on the beach. They conducted a reconnaissance to defend the area from the landing of major forces. Specialists supported Seahawk and Super Cobra chopper crews. The machines have taken off from the TCG ‘Anadol’ deck. At the same time, divers neutralized the mine dams located below the surface. Shortly thereafter, marine infantry and mechanized troops entered the operation. The sub-chapters landed from the deck of the said ‘Anadol’, but besides the Spanish landing ship ESPS ‘Castilla’. Soldiers were tossed, among others, utilizing the floating armored transporters ZAHA MAV, which the army of Turkey uses.

Their activities were observed by NATO and German authorities. – The situation in the Baltic Sea has deteriorated dramatically, and exercises specified as these present show that we are taking the deterrence of possible aggressors very seriously, as quoted by Western media Boris Pistorius, Minister of National Defence of Germany. In a akin tone, General Carsten Breuer, the general inspector of the Bundeswehr, spoke. “Europe is inactive facing a real threat from Russia,” he said. However, he added that the manoeuvres in Putlos could lead to a certain " Diplomatic effect".

The Putlos Desert was part of the large-scale “Steadfast Dart 2026” exercise. These include 10,000 soldiers from 11 countries, and 1 and a half 1000 vehicles: tanks, combat infantry cars, mobile rocket launchers, as well as various types of aircraft and ships. The aim of the maneuvers is to test European NATO members to deploy forces close the east flank. The primary function in the task is played by the Allied consequence Forces (ARF), established in 2023, under the findings of the NATO Summit in Vilnius. They consist of 40,000 soldiers who, after obtaining the approval of the North Atlantic Council, can be sent to the crisis or war in just 10 days.

The Steadfast Dart will last until the end of March.